• Title/Summary/Keyword: conservation biology

Search Result 552, Processing Time 0.021 seconds

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Glehnia littoralis (Umbelliferae) in Korea

  • Huh Man Kyu;Choi Joo Soo;Huh Hong Wook;Choi Yung Hyun;Choi Byung Tae
    • Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
    • /
    • v.17 no.6
    • /
    • pp.1519-1523
    • /
    • 2003
  • Glehnia littoralis Fr. Schmidt (Umbelliferae) is a short-lived herbaceous species that are mostly distributed throughout East Asia. Although G. littoralis has been regarded as ecologically important one, there is no report on population structure in Korea. Starch gel electrophoresis was used to investigate the allozyme variation and genetic structure of Korean populations of this species. A high level of genetic variation was found in G. littoral is populations. Nine enzymes revealed 18 loci, of which 12 were polymorphic (66.7%). Genetic diversity at the species and population levels were 0.159 and 0.129, respectively. The sexual and asexual reproduction, high fecundity, and colonization process are proposed as possible factors contributing to genetic diversity. An indirect estimate of the number of migrants per generation (Nm = 1.45) indicated that gene flow was not extensive among Korean populations of this species. It is suggested that the ability of vegetation and artificial selection may have played roles in shaping the population structure of this species. we recommend that a desirable conservation population should be included at least 30 plants per population and especially those with high variation.

Comparison of environmental characteristics at Cicuta virosa habitats, an endangered species in South Korea

  • Shin, Cha Jeong;Nam, Jong Min;Kim, Jae Geun
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
    • /
    • v.36 no.1
    • /
    • pp.19-29
    • /
    • 2013
  • Cicuta virosa is an endangered species in Korea, which is a southern marginal area. To conserve and restore habitats of this plant, we investigated water and soil environmental characteristics and vegetation at four habitats during the growing season. The C. virosa habitats differed in community structure, water and substrate properties, and water regime. Although the total distribution ranges of the water and soil environments for C. virosa were wide and overlapped with the optimal environmental range of distribution of accompanying species, the optimal water level range for C. virosa was defined as $7{\pm}3.5$ cm. Water level was adjusted by substrate structure such as a mound of P. japonica and a floating mat comprised of accompanying species. A floating mat was an aid to maintain an optimal and stable water level in deep or fluctuating water and to prevent strong competition with prolific macrophytes. The GS sampling site, which had floating mats, could be a good model for C. virosa conservation in a warm temperate region, whereas the PC sampling sites, which experienced a water shortage in spring, provided a clue about the decline in C. virosa population size.

Sex-related demographics in two remnant populations of a dioecious tree Ilex cornuta (Aquifoliaceae): implications for conservation

  • Shin, Sookyung;Lee, Hakbong;Lee, Jei-Wan;Kang, Hyesoon
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
    • /
    • v.43 no.3
    • /
    • pp.320-331
    • /
    • 2019
  • Background: Dioecious plant species having both male and female plants have been investigated regarding sex-related characteristics such as sex ratio, sex-differential resource requirements, and spatial segregation of the sexes. Habitat loss and fragmentation are major threats to the survival of plant populations, but dioecious species are particularly more prone to such habitat degradation than non-dioecious species because of their dimorphic sexual system. We examined the sex-related demographics of two Ilex cornuta populations being different regarding land use history. Methods: During 2016-2017, we examined I. cornuta trees with a basal diameter ${\geq}1.5cm$ in the Yongsu-ri population (YS population) and the Gotjawal Provincial Park population (GP population). Plant sex (male, female, or unsexed) was identified. The tree size (basal diameter and height of the main stem), clonal production (the ramet numbers per genet), and vitality for each clone were measured. The associations between population, sex, tree size, clonal production, and vitality were examined using ANOVAs and contingency table analyses. Finally, point pattern analyses using O-ring statistics were conducted to assess spatial patterns. Results: Upon excluding unsexed trees, the YS population with 74 trees was significantly male-biased (0.66), while the GP population with only 26 trees had a 1:1 sex ratio. In both populations, males and females did not differ in tree size. Although the mean number of ramets differed significantly between populations, females tended to produce more ramets than males. The proportion of weak trees was significantly higher in the YS than in the GP population. Neither population showed evidence of spatial segregation of the sexes. Conclusions: The two populations of dioecious I. cornuta are characterized by the small number of trees and relatively high frequencies of non-reproductive trees. Both indicate that these populations are quite susceptible to environmental and genetic stochasticity. On the other hand, the differences between populations in sex ratio, clonal production, and vitality suggest that conservation efforts for I. cornuta need to be population-specific. In order to help recover and enable this vulnerable species to persist, it is necessary to find ways to enhance their sexual reproduction and simultaneously reduce habitat disturbances due to anthropogenic activities.

Conservation of stone cultural properties-Restoration and Conservation Treatment about Bowonsabeobin-guksaboseungtap(Stupa of high priest Beobinguksa of Bowonsa Temple) (서산보원사법인국사보승탑 해체복원을 통해 살펴 본 석조문화재의 보존)

  • Sin, Eun-Jeong;Kim, SaDug
    • 보존과학연구
    • /
    • s.25
    • /
    • pp.93-117
    • /
    • 2004
  • The stone cultural properties durability is the falling. So the conservation is easy relatively. But the conservation countermeasure of the stone cultural properties the environment pollution needed urgently as extreme. I will find out about the stone cultural properties Through the example of Restoration and conservation treatment about Bowonsabeobin-guksaboseungtap in the paper. Damage reasons of the stone cultural properties are a physical damage, a structural damage, a biology damage, a chemical damage and artificial damage. The moisture plays especially the role which damage is make the stone cultural properties. The stone cultural properties is damaged due to damage reasons. So we investigate the stone cultural properties and must remove damage reasons. Bowonsabeobin-guksaboseungtap is funerary stupa of buddhist monk with circleorientedoctagon in Geryeo Period. There is the open air. Parts of it were damaged by grave robbery in 2004. So restoration was begun in 2004.While restoring it, wrong arrangement on top of the monk-stupa was rearranged. After being arranged in right order, the middle of monk-stupa was fixed by setting up stainlesssteel shaft. A roof stone of stupa finial has cracks. So It was adhered with epoxy resin(L-30) and was washed with distilled water for pollution clearing. The stone cultural properties takes the influence of the environment pollution much because it stays at the fields. It is easy also to be robed. Therefore we must watch more with the concern.

  • PDF

Challenges for conserving biodiversity and developing sustainable island tourism in North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

  • Hakim, Luchman;Soemarno, Marno;Hong, Sun-Kee
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
    • /
    • v.35 no.2
    • /
    • pp.61-71
    • /
    • 2012
  • Recent conditions in North Sulawesi Province (NSP) have become favorable for the development of tourism. In this paper, we present the recent status of biodiversity and tourism in NSP as a basic consideration towards integrative biodiversity conservation strategy. Overall, biological accounts suggest that NSP is important for the world biodiversity conservation program. NSP's biodiversity makes the area a major nature-based tourism (ecotourism) site in the world. Development of diverse tourism programs in NSP has provided new opportunities for balancing development and conservation of regional ecosystems. However, the excessive tourism growth in some particular areas in NSP has been identified as the primary factor of environmental degradation. Nowadays, biodiversity of North Sulawesi regions are suffering from the number of tourist impacts and facilities. Based on those conditions, tourism planning and development in NSP is needed to formulate a proper strategy to protect the ecosystem and biodiversity from degradation and extinction. This will be a new challenge of sustainable island tourism development and biodiversity conservation in NSP.

Cooperative Model within Local Community for the Conservation of the Endangered Plant Species, Corylopsis coreana (멸종위기종, 히어리의 보전을 위한 지역사회 협력 모델)

  • Lim, Dong-Ok;Choung, Heung-Lak
    • Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
    • /
    • v.18 no.1
    • /
    • pp.51-57
    • /
    • 2009
  • Corylopsis coreana Uyeki is endemic species in the Korean peninsula and is designated a Category Endangered Plant Species by the Wildlife Protection Act of South Korea. We developed the plan and cooperative model within the local community for the species conservation. In order to carry out this plan we first investigated the ecological characteristics of the species. The species shows patterns of discontinuous distribution and is coupled with the unusual feature of only growing on northern exposed slopes. Although Corylopsis coreana is cut the stem every year, many new sprouts are still grown from the root. Natural germination of the seed occurs only on north-facing slopes, but not on south-facing slopes at spring. That is, the species is highly influenced by soil moisture until the seedling stage has been reached. This factor limits the distribution of the species. When saplings are planted on south-facing slopes, they grow well. The information we gathered greatly helped with efforts to draw up conservation plans. In addition, when the information was shared with the local community, builders and residents showed great interest and displayed a will to help with conservation efforts. Therefore, a cooperative model within the local community was drawn up for the conservation of the species. Accordingly this model could be applied at mitigation measure at environment impact assessment.

Unrecorded Soil Fungi Isolated from the Dokdo, Korea

  • Eo, Ju-Kyeong;Park, Eunsu;Choi, Jae-Wook;Shin, Hyun-Chul;Choi, Seung-Se;Park, So-Yeon
    • Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
    • /
    • v.3 no.3
    • /
    • pp.172-177
    • /
    • 2022
  • Two unrecorded fungi, Diaporthe perseae and Fusarium falciforme, were isolated from soil sampled from Dokdo in Korea. There have been many reports of Diaporthe sp. and Fusarium sp. in mainland Korea but none of them have reported in Dokdo so far. We used the morphological features and two molecular markers including the internal transcribed spacer and translation elongation factor 1-α region to compare and analyze these species with the closely related taxa. As a result, we confirmed that these fungi were unrecorded soil fungi in Korea. Then, the cultural and morphological characteristics such as the conidia of these two fungal species could be clarified. These results are expected to help us to understand the distribution of fungi in Dokdo and manage the Dokdo Island Natural Reserve.

Intergenerics Nuclear Transfer Technology for Conservation of Endangered Species

  • Lee, B.C.;S.K. Kang;J.K. Cho;B. Bavister;W.S. Hwang
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
    • /
    • 2002.11a
    • /
    • pp.56-62
    • /
    • 2002
  • The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) considers the western/lowland bongo Tragelaphus eurycerus eurycerus to be a threatened species, and the eastern/mountain bongo Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci an endangered species[1]. Although extinction is considered by many biologists to be a natural process during evolution, the exponential growth of the human population has drastically and prematurely reduced the numbers and genetic diversity of many species[2]. Species have evolved to adapt to a specific habitat or environment that meet their survival needs. Alteration or destruction of their habitat results in a species becoming incapable of adapting and hence becoming threatened with extinction. A widespread scientific and public consensus has emerged suggesting that governments should assign high priority to the maintenance of biological diversity via habitat preservation and management far species conservation[3]. Unfortunately, the loss of biological diversity far surpasses the available conservation resources and species are lost forever on a daily basis[4]. Notwithstanding the focus on habitat preservation and wildlife management, conservation biologists have also become increasingly interested in using the technologies of reproductive and developmental biology to help manage or rescue endangered species[5].

  • PDF

Two new triterpenoid saponins derived from the leaves of Panax ginseng and their antiinflammatory activity

  • Li, Fu;Cao, Yufeng;Luo, Yanyan;Liu, Tingwu;Yan, Guilong;Chen, Liang;Ji, Lilian;Wang, Lun;Chen, Bin;Yaseen, Aftab;Khan, Ashfaq A.;Zhang, Guolin;Jiang, Yunyao;Liu, Jianxun;Wang, Gongcheng;Wang, Ming-Kui;Hu, Weicheng
    • Journal of Ginseng Research
    • /
    • v.43 no.4
    • /
    • pp.600-605
    • /
    • 2019
  • Background: The leaves and roots of Panax ginseng are rich in ginsenosides. However, the chemical compositions of the leaves and roots of P. ginseng differ, resulting in different medicinal functions. In recent years, the aerial parts of members of the Panax genus have received great attention from natural product chemists as producers of bioactive ginsenosides. The aim of this study was the isolation and structural elucidation of novel, minor ginsenosides in the leaves of P. ginseng and evaluation of their antiinflammatory activity in vitro. Methods: Various chromatographic techniques were applied to obtain pure individual compounds, and their structures were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution mass spectrometry, as well as chemical methods. The antiinflammatory effect of the new compounds was evaluated on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Results and conclusions: Two novel, minor triterpenoid saponins, ginsenoside $LS_1$ (1) and 5,6-didehydroginsenoside $Rg_3$ (2), were isolated from the leaves of P. ginseng. The isolated compounds 1 and 2 were assayed for their inhibitory effect on nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, and Compound 2 showed a significant inhibitory effect with $IC_{50}$ of $37.38{\mu}M$ compared with that of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine ($IC_{50}=90.76{\mu}M$). Moreover, Compound 2 significantly decreased secretion of cytokines such as prostaglandin $E_2$ and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$. In addition, Compound 2 significantly suppressed protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. These results suggested that Compound 2 could be used as a valuable candidate for medicinal use or functional food, and the mechanism is warranted for further exploration.